Do you speak English as a second language? Parlez-vous français? Hablas español? Loquerisne Latine? Sprechen sie Deutsch?

Languages are important to colleges and their admissions requirements. With most American high schools offering Spanish, French, Latin and sometimes even German or Mandarin, chances are that you have taken your fair share of language courses and have hopefully learned something along the way. But just how important might your experience speaking a foreign language be?

Many colleges require a minimum of two years of high school foreign language courses. More competitive schools, such as Stanford and Harvard, require a minimum of three years, with a fourth year recommended. While there are some colleges that have little or no language requirement, your second language will always help to make your application stand out over those that have none.

Why might this be important to top colleges and universities? The business and collegiate climate are becoming increasingly globalized. More colleges have their own language requirements for graduation, and they want their prospective students to demonstrate an ability to succeed with a foreign language. These schools also want their students and graduates accurately prepared to deal and converse with potential foreign clients or business partners that they may meet after graduation. After all, it will impress prospective employers and help build your résumé!

It is a smart idea to start speaking foreign languages as early as you can. Some colleges even accept high-level middle school language courses for requirements. Additionally, advanced placement courses can not only help you get into college, but also may give you collegiate course credit to wipe out an undergraduate language requirement before you even arrive on campus! Remember that a score of four or five is usually necessary for college course credit.

Finally, if you are planning to study abroad during your college tenure, top universities are increasingly adding language proficiency requirements to abroad programs to make sure students are prepared to take on their country of choice with its native tongue. You will be sure to impress the people you meet on your global journeys, and impress your friends and family along the way!

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